It Was Almost Real: The Pro Wrestling History Podcast

In this episode, I discuss the recent passing of my co-host and cousin Dan Zimmerman. I discuss a mixed styles bout between Ray Steele and Kingfish Levinsky in St. Louis during November 1935.

In this episode, I discuss a controversial referee's decision in the 1905 match between Fred Beell and Gus "Americus" Schoenlein.

In this episode, I review a closed door match between Tom Jenkins and Fred Beell. I also review The Iron Claw (2023).

In this episode, I will be talking about an Illinois select committee's investigation into professional boxing and wrestling in Chicago, Illinois. In part two, we discuss the revelations that made Sandow and Lewis look bad.

In this episode, I will be talking about an Illinois select committee's investigation into professional boxing and wrestling in Chicago, Illinois. In part one, we discuss the revelations that made Joe Stecher look bad.

In this episode, I will be talking a wrestler who need “liquid courage” to climb in the ring with Evan “The Strangler” Lewis.

In this episode, I discuss how the Divided Championship Era began to expose the worked nature of professional wrestling.

In this episode, I discuss William Muldoon wrestling a contest that wasn't much of a contest and demonstrating his system of physical training.

In this episode, Dan and I discuss two notable omissions from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

In this episode, we discuss Bernarr MacFadden's professional wrestling career in St. Louis, Missouri.

In this episode, I discuss Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeating the Masked Marvel during the 1915 New York International Wrestling Tournament.

In this episode, we discuss former World Champion Wayne "Big" Munn and his lesser known brother, Glen Munn.

In this episode, we discuss one of the first nationally known African American wrestlers, Reginald Siki.

In this episode, I discuss the first of three matches in 1926 between World Champion Joe Stecher and John "The Nebraska Tigerman" Pesek. I also discuss the two big wrestling companies debuting on Netflix and Max.

In this episode, I discuss the mixed styles match between Taro Miyake versus Ad Santel in October 1916.

In this episode, I discuss why the Divided Championship Era lasted for three years from 1925 to 1928. I also review the original Survivor Series 1987.

In this episode, I discuss the recently discovered film of the 1908 match between George Hackenschmidt and Joe Rogers.

In this episode, we discuss Martin "Farmer" Burns training James J. Jeffries for his bout with Jack Johnson on July 4, 1910.

In this episode, I discuss the beginnings of the regular St. Louis wrestling promotion in 1921. I also discuss the Mr. McMahon documentary on Netflix.

In this episode, Dan and I talk about a number of the news stories surrounding AEW and WWE.

In this episode, I discuss the professional wrestling and refereeing career of St. Louis' first professional wrestler, George Baptiste.

In this episode, we discuss 1925-1928, when both Ed "Strangler" Lewis and Joe Stecher claimed the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship.

In this episode, we look at Taro Miyake's challenge matches in England and review one of the few double-crosses after the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance.

In this episode, we discuss the controversial 1887 match between Evan "Strangler" Lewis and English catch wrestler Tom Connors.

In this episode, I discuss the development of the St. Louis wrestling promotion under Tom Packs and Sam Muchnick.

In this episode, we discuss how Hubert and Charley Pesek affected the career of John "The Nebraska Tigerman" Pesek.

In this episode, I discuss the federal government prosecuting a gambling ring in 1910. The case exposed how wrestlers worked matches to bilk fans betting on the matches.

In this episode, I talk about the upcoming podcast schedule and website revisions to kenzimmermanjr.com.

In this episode, we discuss wrestlers and jiu jitsu fighters working matches in Brazil. We also review WWE's King and Queen of the Ring.

In this episode, I talk about the 1924 match between Jim Browning and Taro Miyake.

Technical difficulties led to this podcast being more of a compilation. We discuss an odd decision by the New York State Althletic Commission in 1921.

In this episode, I discuss the backstage video from AEW at Wembley, talk about pro wrestling before the modern promotion system, and review Wrestlemania XL Day 2.

In this episode, I discuss the possible reasons for the falling out between Tex Rickard and Jack Curley. I also review the first night of Wrestlemania XL.

In this episode, we discuss the threat that Marin Plestina posed to the wrestling trust between 1917 and 1921.

In this episode, we discuss how World War I affected American professional wrestling. We also reveal who said, "Repetition is the key when dealing with goofs."

In this solo episode, I look at John "The Nebraska Tiger Man" Pesek settling two promotional wars in the 1920s.

In this episode, we discuss the origins of professional wrestling stories and legends around events through history.

In this episode, we discuss the careers of Jim Londos and Primo Carnera leading into a review of their 1950 wrestling match.

In this episode, we discuss William Muldoon vs. Clarence Whistler as we try to be more positive this week.

In this episode, we discuss the Vince McMahon scandal, the dirty deeds of promoters in the past, and review the 2024 Royal Rumble. We end this long episode talking about wrestling on TV in St. Louis during the 1980s.

In this episode, I discuss the first five years of Ed "Strangler" Lewis' career.

In this episode, we discuss the boxer vs. wrestler bout between "Battling" Levinsky vs. Ray Steele.

In this episode, we discuss how gambling schemes fed into professional wrestling's unsavory reputation.

In this episode, we discuss a new discover about Ed "Strangler" Lewis, why Mort Henderson was picked to be the Masked Marvel, and a look at Jerry Lawler vs. "Dirty" Dutch Mantel.

In this episode, we discuss a Christmas Night wrestling fiasco in 1911.

In this episode, we discuss how and when Billy Sandow and Ed "Strangler" Lewis really met.

In this episode, we discuss the famous double-cross of "Big" Wayne Munn and the Gold Dust Trio by Stanislaus Zbyszko.

In this episode, we discuss news, the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame, Joe Stecher in the 1910s, and review a match from Mid-Atlantic in 1983.

In this episode, we discuss Stanislaus Zbyszko's last match of his first tour of America. We finish with his return to the United States in 1920.

In this episode, we discuss Stanislaus Zbyszko's campaign for Frank Gotch's World Title.

In this bonus episode, we discuss the documentary 350 Days about pro wrestling in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.